Icom IC-M88 programmability?

[Jon Gauthier]

Tried posting this over in rec.boating.electronics and got no response:

Anyone have their Icom IC-M88 handheld marine transceiver programmed to enable
the LMR (land mobile radio) functionality? It's normally used for commercial
business, but it does overlap into the amateur 2 meter band (144-148 MHz).
The LMR band covers 146-174 MHz, which also overlaps marine band
(156.05-163.275 MHz).

I got my ham license over a year ago and haven't used it. I bought the
IC-M88 to replace my dead Horizon HS-250, and got the '88 specifically
because of LMR capability.

Can the M88's 22 LMR channels be programmed to work with 2 meter amateur
repeaters? It supports CTCSS and DTCS...

Finally, is the programming done using a PC and serial cable, or manually
using the keypad?

The manual says have the dealer program it. Most consumer marine electronics
dealers wouldn't have a clue since they only deal with marine VHF, and a precious
few may work with ham-enabled marine SSB's like the Icom 710 or the newer 802. Any
have ideas on how to program this tiny radio?

--
Jon Gauthier
KB1HTW

Given the likely reaction to an increase in
terror-alert level to "severe threat imminent,"
wouldn't a more appropriate alert color be brown?
-Brad Simanek on www.ruminate.com